Brownback officials ‘blatantly deceptive’ about tobacco idea

Sullivan

Sullivan

When Kansas Action for Children, a Topeka-based advocacy organization, warned last week that the state may sell off its remaining tobacco settlement money for a lump-sum payment, Brownback administration officials mocked the idea. State budget director Shawn Sullivan wrote on Twitter: “Why are there black helicopters circling my office? Are they here to drop off this secret deal?” Gov. Sam Brownback’s spokeswoman also derided the “rumor.” But not only did Sullivan and other administration officials meet last fall with investment bankers regarding this idea, Brownback discussed it in a closed-door meeting with GOP legislative leaders earlier this month, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. “The things that have been said by the administration in the last few days have been blatantly deceptive,” KAC president Shannon Cotsoradis said. – Phillip Brownlee